A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Mayer hasn’t proven he can hit MLB pitching, or stay healthy, or be an everyday player yet.

Yup, but he's playing everyday at the wrong position.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

I assumed an outfielder (Duran, specifically) would be dealt for a 2b/3b…

BINGO

[JoeBrady]

5 hours ago, Old Red said:

Ranger, and Dubin was the settle for Bregman. Ranger doesn’t come if Bregman was signed, and neither would Dubin.

That's about right.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Whats even funnier is we took Colorado’s 2b this past offseason as a potential fix in Boston…

I hope you're not referring to Rodgers.

[Old Red]

48 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup, but he's playing everyday at the wrong position.

I don’t even know how much the Red Sox value Mayer as a SS anymore let alone the SS of the future.

[moonslav59]

28 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t even know how much the Red Sox value Mayer as a SS anymore let alone the SS of the future.

Yup, so play him at SS until he earns it or a demotion.

If he gets demoted, we'll decide who plays SS then. (IKF?)

[notin]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

I hope you're not referring to Rodgers.

Why?  Did the Sox nor acquire him?  He was part of that Colorado 2b mess…

[notin]

34 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t even know how much the Red Sox value Mayer as a SS anymore let alone the SS of the future.

Because they won’t bump Story for him?

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

Because they won’t bump Story for him?

At one point I suggested we trade for Ezequiel Tovar to play SS (Story to 2B and Mayer to 3B,) but I'm not sure we matched up well with them. We'd need to have gotten more than Tovar for any of our 4 OF'ers.

[Old Red]

50 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup, so play him at SS until he earns it or a demotion.

If he gets demoted, we'll decide who plays SS then. (IKF?)

I don’t think it’s that simple if they view him as a 2B, or 3B better. 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t think it’s that simple if they view him as a 2B, or 3B better. 

I think it's more about viewing Story like they did Devers for too long- immovable.

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Spoiler Alert:

For those who have the Sox as a sure thing to win the '26 WS, bad news. The Dodgers end up as WS champs 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Spoiler Alert:

For those who have the Sox as a sure thing to win the '26 WS, bad news. The Dodgers end up as WS champs 

And no. They don't play the Sox in the WS.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Spoiler Alert:

For those who have the Sox as a sure thing to win the '26 WS, bad news. The Dodgers end up as WS champs 

Fangraphs says 27% Dodgers will be champs.

9% Braves & Yankees

8% Mariners

5% Tigers & Phillies

[moonslav59]

AL Teams winning WS, according to fangraphs:

9.2 NYY

7.7 SEA

5.3 DET

4.1 TEX

3.0 BAL

2.9 BOS (40% chance at making playoffs)

2.2 TBR

2.1 TOR

1.9 MIN

[Sthpaw777]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Spoiler Alert:

For those who have the Sox as a sure thing to win the '26 WS, bad news. The Dodgers end up as WS champs 

I have them in fourth place with about 84 wins.

[vjcsmoke]

Nice 1st win of the season for Connelly Early. If he can turn into a competent top 3 pitcher, our starting rotation might not be a disaster after all.

[mvp 78]

13 hours ago, notin said:

Why?  Did the Sox nor acquire him?  He was part of that Colorado 2b mess…

Nobody thought he was a potential fix except on here. He was just filler for the WOO roster. 

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Spoiler Alert:

For those who have the Sox as a sure thing to win the '26 WS, bad news. The Dodgers end up as WS champs 

You sure it won't be the White Sox? 

[notin]

41 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nobody thought he was a potential fix except on here. He was just filler for the WOO roster. 

There is some irony  in that we got our fillers from the only place that needed them more…

[notin]

13 hours ago, Old Red said:

I don’t think it’s that simple if they view him as a 2B, or 3B better. 

But - and this is important - you have absolutely no idea how they view Mayer…

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, notin said:

There is some irony  in that we got our fillers from the only place that needed them more…

They spent money on Willi Castro (2/12) rather than bringing back Rodgers. 🫠

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

But - and this is important - you have absolutely no idea how they view Mayer…

They view him as a guy they really would not like to trade.

Also, they are comfortable with him paying 2b, SS, 3b. We definitely know that. If there's a preference going forward to one over the other? Don't know.

[Old Red]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They view him as a guy they really would not like to trade.

Also, they are comfortable with him paying 2b, SS, 3b. We definitely know that. If there's a preference going forward to one over the other? Don't know.

I agree, and that’s why I said IF they view him more as a 2B/3B going forward with someone else viewed as the long term SS like Arias. I’m definitely not viewing Mayer as the automatic SS of the future, but like you said we don’t know at this time.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They view him as a guy they really would not like to trade.

Also, they are comfortable with him paying 2b, SS, 3b. We definitely know that. If there's a preference going forward to one over the other? Don't know.

If Arias keeps hitting, he may be the SS going forward. 

Then Mayer would wind up at 3B or 2B, depending on where the home run hitter they have to acquire plays in the infield.

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and that’s why I said IF they view him more as a 2B/3B going forward with someone else viewed as the long term SS like Arias. I’m definitely not viewing Mayer as the automatic SS of the future, but like you said we don’t know at this time.

I've made the point before that MAYBE they are holding the door for the hand off to be Story to Arias, but they've already moved Mayer around a bunch. I don't think there's an issue moving Mayer to SS short term and then moving him to 2b or 3b down the road (at least to me).

[notin]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I've made the point before that MAYBE they are holding the door for the hand off to be Story to Arias, but they've already moved Mayer around a bunch. I don't think there's an issue moving Mayer to SS short term and then moving him to 2b or 3b down the road (at least to me).

Arias is 20 years old with 79 at bats in above A-ball.  While the Sox are very likely excited about his future, I’d be shocked if he was already penciled in to replace Story…

[drewski6]

23 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

They could be good acquisitions, but still not equal value for losing a top of the order foundational bat. You can still lament the loss of said good acquisitions in terrible trades later on (particularly the Tibbs for May deal). 

No! Every single problem the Red Sox have had since 2019 is squarely the fault of the fans! How dare you

[mvp 78]

32 minutes ago, notin said:

Arias is 20 years old with 79 at bats in above A-ball.  While the Sox are very likely excited about his future, I’d be shocked if he was already penciled in to replace Story…

It's not highly likely for sure, that's why I said "maybe." 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

No! Every single problem the Red Sox have had since 2019 is squarely the fault of the fans! How dare you

Fans do expect too much from this ownership (who have never done anything wrong). 😍